Four Victorian firefighters and 84-year-old Seaton grandfather Stan Hayhurst, who was caught in the Aberfeldy fire, also lost their lives this fire season.

Police have also revealed that arsonists suspected of lighting the Chepstowe-Carngham grass fire in January and the Dereel fire last month remain on the loose. The fires destroyed nine houses and 16 houses respectively.

The Aberfeldy fire in January, the worst of the bushfire season, destroyed 21 houses and more than 85,000 hectares and claimed the life of Mr Hayhurst, who died trying to flee the blaze as it tore through Seaton.

Police allege it was recklessly lit by Grahame Code, 75, at his rural Aberfeldy property. and he faces five charges.

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A fire at Donnybrook, which destroyed several properties on Melbourne's outer fringe and magnified concerns about the preparedness of residents in semi-urban areas, was also lit recklessly, police allege. A 48-year-old Geelong man has been charged with one count of recklessly causing a bushfire and will face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jeff Maher, the head of the arson and explosives squad, said that not all careless acts that caused a bushfire were deemed to be reckless.

He said that, for example, driving a car through long dry grass may not necessarily be reckless, but using an angle grinder in the same area could be.

"Police are very concerned about the number of recklessly started fires during this fire season," Detective Senior Sergeant Maher said.

"There will be zero tolerance by Victoria Police in relation to this issue."

Moorabool crime investigation unit detectives are appealing for information about the two major arsons that remain unsolved.

Detective Acting Sergeant Leigh Discher said both fires were believed to suspicious because of how fast they spread, and because both originated close to the small towns they threatened.

He said there was nothing to indicate the same offenders were responsible for the Chepstowe-Carngham fire and the Dereel fire.

Despite the bushfire season being forecast amid normal conditions for southern Australia, this summer was worse than any other since 2008-09.

Mr Lapsley said there were 4400 fires reported to fire authorities this bushfire season, burning about 190,000 hectares. Twenty four fires were classified as significant.

He commended firefighters for keeping property losses to a minimum, but said it was a tragedy that the fire season claimed the lives of Mr Hayhurst and firefighters.

He said losses would have been far worse if it were not for the quick response of firefighters.

"The weight of attack or initial response of firefighters has been extremely successful," Mr Lapsley said.

He said the increased length of the fire season, with serious bushfires starting in late March, may make backburning operations more difficult to complete and would have an impact on the availability of firefighting resources.

Mr Lapsley said that while an average fire season was forecast, this changed during an extreme heat wave in January.

He said the fire season could have been far worse, with no blazes in central Victoria despite treacherous conditions.

Mr Goodwin said the DSE had started large-scale backburning , but these burns had been delayed.

He spent Wednesday at a backburn in north-east Victoria with crews who had worked with Katie Peters and Steven Kadar, two firefighters who lost their lives during the Harrietville fire.

Anybody with information about arson or recklessly lit bushfires is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

THE WORST FIRES OF THE SUMMER

January 4: Kentbruck fire. No houses lost. 6000 hectares. Started in timber plantation, possibly by lightning.

January 17: Aberfeldy fire. 21 houses lost. 85,000 hectares. Stan Hayhurst, 84, died in his car trying to flee his holiday house as fire raged through Seaton. Man allegedly started the fire accidentally at his rural property in Aberfeldy.

January 21: Harrietville fire. No houses lost. 36,000 hectares. Two firefighters killed when a tree landed on their vehicle on February 13 on Pheasants Creek Track in Selwyn. Katie Peters, 19, from Tallandoon and 29-year-old Steven Kadar, from Corryong, died. Started by lightning.

January 27: Boho fire. No houses lost. 800 hectares, one man received bad burns to his legs. Fire started by faulty fridge in caravan.

February 14: Grampians fire. No houses lost, but sheds, livestock and fences lost. 35,000 hectares. One firefighter injured. Fire started by lightning.

February 18: Donnybrook fire. One house, several sheds lost. 1900 hectares. Geelong man has been charged with one count of recklessly cause a bushfire.